caulfield12

"It seems like they're swinging a lot," Sale said of the A's, against whom he's 2-0 lifetime, including 1-0 with 16 strikeouts in 142/3 innings last season. "And right when you think they're swinging a lot, they're very patient. That's why they have the success they do." Santiago witnessed that in the ninth and 10th innings. He worked out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the ninth when he got Derek Norris to ground into a double play and struck out Eric Sogard. But in the 10th, he issued an intentional walk to Yoenis Cespedes before walking Josh Donaldson to load the bases. Josh Reddick then walked with no intention of swinging at a 3-1 count to end the game. "There were a few pitches that I thought definitely in that situation other teams are swinging, and they just stood there like 'Here, throw me a strike if you can,'" Santiago said. "It's definitely tough because I felt like those pitches definitely get someone out in a different game." But Reddick had a good read on Santiago. "He threw a lot of fastballs, so that's what I was sitting on, something over the plate, and he tried to nibble," said Reddick, who pushed a bunt past Santiago for a single to load the bases in the ninth. "On 3-1, I was taking the whole time. I figured I was so comfortable in the box. I felt great and saw him well before. I felt like if I got to 3-2, I'd be comfortable anyway." www.chicagotribune.com/sports

QUOTE (2nd_city_saint787 @ Jun 1, 2013 -> 07:21 PM) I really like the Colvin idea but if we acquire him to play CF then who leads off this year? I doubt they're going to bench Dunn so moving De Aza to LF and Tank to DH probably wouldn't work. Lexi has been showing off his wheels a tad bit more this season but I'm not so sure he'd be a good option to lead off. For next year though, if they're ok with moving Dayan to 1B/DH that would be pretty intriguing. I saw a poster ask if he's just a platoon player, his numbers last year would suggest not. He hit RHP much better to the tune of a .297 ba with a .891 ops but his numbers against LHP is at least respectable at .270/.752. Trade for Colvin then go grab McCann in FA and got to battle with a De Aza-Beckham-Rios-Dunn-Viciedo-Mccann-Colvin-Ramirez-Gillaspie lineup....Or potentially even swap Mccann and Dunn. Even that's not going to work with Beckham and Dunn...although it would be 5X better than what we have now. Ramirez and/or Gillaspie would fit decently in the 2 spot.

QUOTE (The Ultimate Champion @ Jun 1, 2013 -> 05:42 PM) I think Rios could play CF well with his head in the game. When his head isn't in the game he can't do anything. That said, he's talked of being more comfortable in RF than CF so since he's so mentally fragile we'll just keep him in RF, and if we trade him to Texas for a bunch of prospects (how close is this deal from happening?) then they can experiment for themselves, and if he gets thrown off and becomes a .208 hitting lazy butcher then so what, we already made the deal, enjoy the contract you guys. Except if WE on a message board have already known this for quite some time, every scout/GM/front office in baseball does too.

QUOTE (The Ultimate Champion @ Jun 1, 2013 -> 05:42 PM) I think Rios could play CF well with his head in the game. When his head isn't in the game he can't do anything. That said, he's talked of being more comfortable in RF than CF so since he's so mentally fragile we'll just keep him in RF, and if we trade him to Texas for a bunch of prospects (how close is this deal from happening?) then they can experiment for themselves, and if he gets thrown off and becomes a .208 hitting lazy butcher then so what, we already made the deal, enjoy the contract you guys. Except if WE on a message board have already known this for quite some time, every scout/GM/front office in baseball does too.

OMG. Keppinger actually made a good play defensively. Can't believe it. Slow curveball there, not a good pitch selection.

QUOTE (DirtySox @ Jun 1, 2013 -> 10:12 AM) I'm not a fan of any of those outfielders personally. Especially Wilson. Stanek would be a great get if he falls. I also really like Gonzalez but it sounds like he isn't getting past Arizona. I wouldn't be surprised if the White Sox nab Dominic Smith if he falls, but once again he probably won't get past Philly. That will scare the fans who remember Dominic Brown's name already.

Just missed a homer there. Oh, brother. Here we go again. Cespedes to be walked. 1st and 2nd, one out. Facing the White Sox always seems to bring our former players/prospects back to life. It never fails.

QUOTE (The Ultimate Champion @ Jun 1, 2013 -> 05:44 PM) I wanna stick my wang through the radio & feed it to the WEndys commerical girl IMO You're in rare form today. First challenging people to wake up from the malaise and debate far-fetched trade ideas. Now this gem.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 1, 2013 -> 05:42 PM) "Too high" Major League? Maybe they need to remove the puzzle pieces covering Kate Upton's life-size cutout to get inspired. Or at least a blow-up doll (minus Nick Swisher's involvement, he's a family man now, lol) Can we for once stop Lawrie from getting on base?

QUOTE (The Ultimate Champion @ Jun 1, 2013 -> 05:39 PM) ^Also Josh Fields had to sit due to Crede's attempted comeback, although nobody cares now because it was Josh Fields... used to be BTW that when you said Josh Fields there was some immediate uncertainty as to whether you meant the 3B, former Sox prospect, or high-ranked pitching prospect, but bnow when you say it you just say :"he suckled" all at once Plus there was another Josh Fields, a pitcher...who came from the Giants, if I remember correctly. EDIT: Oops, missed part of your sentence, but Josh Fields wasn't ever a top-ranked pitching prospect, he might have been 10th on the Top 10 list but he was fringy.

QUOTE (The Ultimate Champion @ Jun 1, 2013 -> 05:37 PM) Brandon McCarthy as well, spot starter to MR to long man to proven workhorse in the Texas rotation You mean proven DL candidate, lol.

QUOTE (Jake @ Jun 1, 2013 -> 05:35 PM) Dayan had done quite a bit of movement too, levels and positions 3B to 1B to RF to LF. Beckham SS to 3B to 2B.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 1, 2013 -> 05:34 PM) Chris Sale Santiago went from starter in winter ball to closer to long reliever to starter to long reliever to starter to set-up guy. Sale went from set-up to closer to starter and then closer for less than a week and back to starter. And that was over 2+ seasons.

Well, that was unexpected in Oakland to survive that situation. One thing's for sure, Nathan Jones wasn't going to get out of that inning. Santiago continuing to average a K/IP. 44 k's, 44 1/3 IP.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jun 1, 2013 -> 05:29 PM) The excuses for Santiago are imcredible. Nothing is ever his fault. Walks a guy...he was in the stretch. Well, he better learn to throw strikes from the stretch. If he can't pitch effectively with runners on base, he isn't the HOFer some people seem to think he is. What player has had his role changed so many times in 1 1/3rd seasons in Sox history? Name him. With Santiago's control issues, walking Crisp was more questionable than it seemed.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jun 1, 2013 -> 05:29 PM) The excuses for Santiago are imcredible. Nothing is ever his fault. Walks a guy...he was in the stretch. Well, he better learn to throw strikes from the stretch. If he can't pitch effectively with runners on base, he isn't the HOFer some people seem to think he is. What player has had his role changed so many times in 1 1/3rd seasons in Sox history? Name him.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 1, 2013 -> 05:28 PM) (I never thought his screwball was his best pitch. At least it certainly wasn't last year, that was the pitch that always hung up and was killed). If he could control it, it would give him a devastating arsenal. Great play by Gimenez to clear the way to get a throwing lane to 1B. Walk to Crisp to load the bases again. Hope we don't see another walk. Sogard up.

QUOTE (Baron @ Jun 1, 2013 -> 05:25 PM) Nice job by Santiago and Nate Jones If they changed your job description at work every 2-3 weeks, how do you think anyone would do in that scenario?

QUOTE (bbilek1 @ Jun 1, 2013 -> 05:26 PM) CAN SOMEONE TELL ME WHY THE f*** REED DIDN'T PITCH THIS INNING. Tie game on the road, it goes against all baseball tradition.

A's about to have won 13 of their last 15 games. Our 9-3 streak is quickly turning into 9-8 and dead in the water.

This was predictable. Those two sliders weren't well delivered. Stupid to start Jones this inning, just terrible managing.

And put Santiago out of the stretch....and he hasn't been great at holding runners, either.

Yet more evidence that Hector Santiago's being misused by Ventura. You don't use Nathan Jones over Santiago in that situation...based on how Jones has thrown recently. It's like Ventura is just giving this game away on purpose by using Jones. Now they bring in Santiago when a runner's already on base. Great. Royals with two late game rallies in the last 3 games. If we lose, they're 1 GB and we're tied with Minny.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 1, 2013 -> 05:13 PM) Terrible luck, as it makes no sense for the SS not to be covering on the steal attempt. Except for the fact that DeAza isn't likely to pull Balfour's fastball on the infield. Royals score, of all things, on a HBP by Robbie Ross against Lough.

QUOTE (BigHurt3515 @ Jun 1, 2013 -> 05:10 PM) That is kind of what I was pointing out? lol You've never noticed the difference in Alex Rios 2009/11 and the last two years? It's easy to see. And when Ventura does send the runner....that ends up happening. Royals loaded the bases with no outs against Texas, now 2 consecutive K's by Moustakas and Cain, lol.